Recessed hinge with electrical connection

ABSTRACT

A hinge for recessed installation between a door frame and a door panel has two housings adapted for recessing in the door frame and an edge of the door panel, a link assembly extending between and pivotally interconnecting the two housings, and a multiconductor cable extending between the housings and having opposite ends each in a respective one of the housings. Respective connectors on the ends of the cable are fixed in the housings.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a recessed hinge. More particularlythis invention concerns such a hinge through which an electricalconnection is made between the door frame and the door panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,829,808, which is herewith incorporatedby reference, a known door hinge for recessed installation between anedge of a door panel and a door jamb has first and second housings thateach form a cavity and are recessed in the door-panel edge and in thedoor jamb. A pair of U-section links pivoted centrally together about acenter axis each have a first end and a second end engaged in thecavities of the respective first and second housings. The first end ofone of the links and the second end of the other link are pivoted aboutrespective vertical axes fixed in the respective housings and the secondend of the one link and the first end of the other link are pivotalabout another respective vertical axis and horizontally shiftable in arespective guide of the respective housings. Thus when the assembliesare fitted to respective mortises in the jamb and door edge, when thedoor is closed the hinge is not visible.

By providing an electrical connection assembly extending between the twohousings, such hinges fasten doors not only invisibly on a door framebut also can be set up to connect electrical loads and sensors on themwithout a visible cable. Possible areas of use are, for example,electrical door locks, alarm systems, access monitoring systems,illumination devices and fire alarm systems.

A hinge with the above-described features is known from DE 10 2007 041816. In this known hinge a ribbon cable extends through between thelinks of the link assembly and exits through holes on the back walls ofthe housings.

In a hinge known from US 2001/0026204 a flexible electrical connectionassembly is provided that comprises electrical connectors on both ends.The connectors are connected to each other by a cable.

The known measures are expensive to assemble. Furthermore, the cablethat runs through the link assembly can be damaged by uncontrolledintrinsic movements during actuation of the hinge.

This represents a serious danger for the functionality of the attacheddevices.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved recessed hinge with electrical connection.

Another object is the provision of such an improved recessed hinge withelectrical connection that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, inparticular that reduces the risk of damage to the electrical connection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A hinge for recessed installation between a door frame and a door panelhas according to the invention two housings adapted for recessing in thedoor frame and an edge of the door panel, a link assembly extendingbetween and pivotally interconnecting the two housings, and amulticonductor cable extending between the housings and having oppositeends each in a respective one of the housings. Respective connectors onthe ends of the cable are fixed in the housings.

The electrical connectors can be designed as standard commercial plugsor sockets. The design in accordance with the invention has severaladvantages: On the one hand the connection can be separately produced orpurchased as a prefabricated cable with two plug connectors on its ends.Connecting to the individual wires of the cable is eliminated by theassembly of the hinges as well as by incorporation of the hinge into thedoor frame and the door panel. There is also a simplification in thesubsequent installation since electrical lines on the door panel and onthe door frame can be detachably electrically connected in aparticularly simple manner and in particular also reconnected in adetachable, electrical manner. A further fastening of the multiconductorcable is not necessary on account of the secure fixing of theconnectors.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the connectors are fixed inholes in back walls of the respective housings.

The housings of the recessed hinge are box-shaped inserts whose openfront sides in the closed state of the door confront each other. Theback area therefore is those surfaces of the boxes that are the farthestapart from each other in the closed door state. The appropriatearrangement of the electrical connection makes possible cable guidancethat is only insignificantly disturbed by the mechanism of the linkassembly. Furthermore, an especially advantageous further guidance ofthe electrical line in the plane of the door panel is possible.

The multiconductor cable is advantageously constructed as a ribboncable. A ribbon cable has the advantage that it is designed to beespecially flexible in one direction, whereas it is stiffer in adirection perpendicular to its longitudinal extent. This is advantageousfor the intended use since a ribbon cable can follow the pivotingmovement of the hinge especially well and it has less of a tendency tosag. A sagging cable could get pinched between individual links and bedamaged as a result. Nevertheless, the use of round cables and otherflexible cables is possible according to the invention.

In one embodiment at least one connector is permanently connected by afoam and/or a cast mass to the respective housing. To this end, forexample, polyurethane-based plastic foams, artificial resins orthermoplastic plastics can be considered. If necessary, sealing agentsmust be provided in order to prevent an overflow of the materials.

In another embodiment of the invention at least one connector ispositively fixed by a holder to the respective housing. The holderconstitutes the positive closure between the connector and the receivingelement. Such a holder can be used, for example, to fasten a commercialplug or a commercial socket to the given geometry of the hinge. It isalso possible, depending on the need, to fasten different cables or, asa consequence thereof, different connectors with correspondinglydesigned holders on the same housing of a hinge. Therefore, theindividual requirements of the customer can be especially addressedwhile the base body of the hinge does not have to be changed.Adaptations for other line types such as, for example glass-fibercables, water lines or compressed-air lines are also conceivable.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the holder surrounds therespective connector in a positive manner and is fastened by a catchformation to the respective housing. The positive closure between theholder and the connector is produced in that the holder has at leastpartially a negative profile complementary to the outer surface shape ofthe connector. The holder is appropriately held by the catch formationin such a manner on the respective housing that the contact can nolonger leave the positive closure with the holder. Alternatively, theholder can also be constructed in such a manner that another catchformation results between the connector and the holder that secures thepositive closure of the two parts.

In an especially preferred embodiment the holder comprises a multipartstructural element having two shells that positively surround therespective connector and are fixed by a catch formation in a hole of therespective housing. The edge of the hole holds the shells in a positivemanner on the connector. According to this embodiment an especiallysimple assembly can be realized. For the assembly the connector is firstplaced between the shells of the holder. The shells can at first makecontact only loosely, which simplifies in particular the disassembly.Subsequently, the holder is fixed by a catch formation in a respectivehole of the housing. The catch formation turns out to be especiallyadvantageous since no other tool is required. However, even otherfastening methods such as, for example, screw fasteners are comprised bythe invention. The parts of the holder are held together in such amanner by the edges of the hole that the positive closure with theconnector is ensured. Therefore, a reliable, indirect positive closureis established between the housing and the connector. Depending on thedesign, an especially effective transfer of force can be ensured bylarge contact surfaces. Furthermore, the holder can also assume aprotective function for the surrounded connector and possibly surroundedparts of the cable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become morereadily apparent from the following description, reference being made tothe accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a horizontal section through a hinge in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective section through a hinge in accordance with theinvention in the section plane II-II in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the electrical connection in a hinge ofthe invention with a mounted holder as well as a not yet mounted holderin an exploded view.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As seen in FIG. 1 a hinge according to the invention comprises twosubstantially identical housings 1 and 1′ interconnected by a linkassembly 2 and intended for recessing in a door frame and in an edge ofa door panel. The link assembly 2 comprises a known design for arecessed hinge, and comprises two links 4 and 4′ that are pivoted on oneanother and rotatably supported on guides 3. Furthermore, the links 4and 4′ are pivotably and movably guided in a connecting link guide ofthe guides 3. The guides 3 are fixed to the housings 1 and 1′. Otherconstructive embodiments, in particular multipivot systems, are alsopossible.

The housings 1 and 1′ are formed as parallepipedal metallic boxes andhave open front sides 5 that confront each other when the hinge isclosed, that is, in the unillustrated closed state of the door. Thefront sides 5 form openings through which the links 4 and 4′ extend.FIG. 1 shows the open position in which the front sides 5 are parallelto one another and open in the same direction. The housings 1 and 1′have back walls 6 that are opposite the front sides 5.

The hinge furthermore comprises a flexible electrical connection 7. Itis formed by a flexible ribbon cable 9 whose opposite ends carryconnectors 8 and 8′ in turn constituted by standard ribbon-cable. Theseconnectors 8 and 8′ are fixed to the housings 1 and 1′ by holders 10 and10′, with a mass 17 of foam or adhesive ensuring a permanent connection.

FIG. 2 shows that each of the holders 10 is held by catch formationsconstituted by barb ends of clip arms 11 in a respective hole in theback wall 6 of the respective housing 1 or 1′. As shown in FIG. 2, aflange 12 prevents it from being pushed in further by engaging a flatack face of the housing 1 or 1′. In the assembled state shown in FIG. 2,only the plug 8 projects at the back wall 6 of the housing 1 from theelectrical connection 7. The multiconductor ribbon cable 9 is whollycontained in and between the housings so that it is protected fromdamage inside the hinge. When the hinge is open it is shielded from theoutside by the links 4 against which it rests on the inside.

FIG. 3 shows how the two holders 10 and 10′ each consist of two shells10 a and 10 b that positively surround the respective plug 8 or 8′ andthat can be clipped together around a respective one of the plugs 8 or8′. When the shells 10 a and 10 b are fitted together, the plug 8 or 8′is locked in place and cannot slide out. The positive mounting isproduced in that a lateral projection 13 on the plug 8 fits into arespective recess of the shell 10 a. A barb-end safety hook 14 forsecuring a connector 8 to another connector (plug or jack) outside therespective housing 1 or 1′ can project past the back wall 6 from theholder 10. The opposite shell 10 b engages with a bent edge 15 into agroove 16 of the respective plug 8.

We claim:
 1. A hinge for recessed installation between a door frame anda door panel, the hinge comprising: two housings adapted for recessingin the door frame and an edge of the door panel; a link assemblyextending between and pivotally interconnecting the two housings; amulticonductor cable extending between the housings and having oppositeends each in a respective one of the housings; and respective connectorson the ends of the cable and fixed in the housings.
 2. The recessedhinge defined in claim 1, wherein each of the housings has a back wallformed with a throughgoing hole in which the respective connector isfixed.
 3. The recessed hinge defined in claim 1, wherein themulticonductor cable is a ribbon cable.
 4. The recessed hinge defined inclaim 1, further comprising: a foam or cast mass connecting at least oneof the connectors to the respective housing.
 5. The recessed hingedefined in claim 1, wherein each of the housings has a back wall formedwith a throughgoing hole, the hinge further comprising: respectiveholders fitting in each of the holes and fitted around and securing therespective connector therein.
 6. The recessed hinge defined in claim 5,wherein each of the holders has a catch formation securing it to therespective back wall.
 7. The recessed hinge defined in claim 5, whereineach of the holders is formed by two shells that fit together and gripthe respective connector.